The League Cup probably offers Arsenal and Manchester United their best chance for a trophy this season.
Both teams play this week in the first leg of the League Cup semifinals, with Arsenal at Wigan on Tuesday and Man United at Blackburn on Wednesday.
Neither team are challenging Chelsea this season in the league.
The Blues lead second-place Manchester United by 13 points, and are 24 points ahead of fifth-place Arsenal. United have already been knocked out of the Champions League.
Wigan will be attempting to avenge a 3-2 loss to Arsenal two months ago in league play.
Arsenal, like several Premier League sides, will be understrength because some of their players have left to join their national teams in preparation for the African Nations Cup in Egypt.
Côte d’Ivoire players Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue missed Saturday’s FA Cup third-round 2-1 victory over Cardiff, and will also be missing on Tuesday.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is resting first-team regulars Thierry Henry, Sol Campbell and Jens Lehmann. Gilberto will captain the side as he did in the last round against Doncaster. Fredrik Ljungberg, Mathieu Flamini, Jose Antonio Reyes, Alexander Hleb and Pascal Cygan will play, but Wenger will field an otherwise youthful line-up.
Wigan, promoted from the League Championship after last season, are bidding to reach their first major final.
”If it happens, it would be an amazing achievement,” manager Paul Jewell said. ”But we are not thinking that far ahead yet, just trying to get a decent result in the first leg.”
Although the Gunners are out of the league title race, they are still in the Champions League.
”They have to be strong favourites,” Jewell said. ”They are arguably one of the best teams in Europe on their day. Arsenal can be unstoppable, because they have the flair and ability to open you up. We know they are good, but I don’t want us to be in awe of them.”
Manchester United will be trying to get even against Blackburn.
Rovers defeated United 2-1 at Old Trafford earlier this season.
United manager Alex Ferguson hopes to beef up his side with the signing of defenders Nemanja Vidic and Patrice Evra. Vidic is moving from Spartak Moscow, with Evra coming from Monaco. They were brought in to fill the voids left by injuries to Gabriel Heinze and Quinton Fortune.
”Nemanja and Patrice build the numbers up to make it a very competitive squad, particularly defensively, and we all know defending is an essential part of winning trophies,” Ferguson said.
Evra is likely to make his debut on Wednesday, while Vidic probably won’t play until later this month.
”You always look to improve, which is what we are trying to do here,” Ferguson said. ”We may do things differently to some other clubs, but the one great thing I have always had at my time at United is the backing to take a long-term view of things.”
Blackburn manager Mark Hughes, a former Manchester United player, knows this is a big chance.
”This game is coming at a good time for us, on the back of five wins, and we would love to make it six on Wednesday,” Hughes said. ”We feel it’s a real opportunity to progress and reach a major final.” — Sapa-AP